How did you become a FIT coach: Approached by Beth Peedom and introduced the Rookie Running Programme in 2010, have been coaching running from novice to experienced ever since.

What do you like about FIT coaching What I enjoy most about coaching is helping ladies love their fitness and enjoyment in being active and helping it become a lifestyle.

Biggest buzz in coaching for me is watching someone not able to run the length of themselves being able to finish 5km. It’s not about time or distances but rather the improvement in themselves in all aspects of their life.

What is your running background: I have run in and coached all distances from 5km to Marathon. My background is primarily in team sport representing at national level in netball softball and rugby union, but now focussed on running and cycling.

Cycling- Emma Wensing

Coaching for FIT since: 2009, but I have been coming to various cycling activities (and maybe one WTTP) in between uni and travel since 1997.

How did you become a FIT coach: I believe MaryAnn encouraged me to come along as a demonstrator….it was so much fun to share my knowledge I went out and got qualified.

What do you like about FIT coaching: It is so rewarding to see the progression that riders make, whether it is a rider who has an ‘ah ha’ moment in a skills session, right through to someone who makes a commitment to come every week. I especially love teaching cycling skills, because it sets the foundations for riders to pursue their own cycling goals, be that riding around the lake on the weekend, riding on the road, or even riding up some of Canberra’s famous hills!

What is your cycling background: I took up cycling as a teenager and have dabbled in track cycling, road cycling, mountain biking and 4-Cross in Australia Canada and New Zealand. I was an enthusiastic (though rarely successful) competitor! After a non-cycling accident in 2013, I’ve given up training for events, but you’ll often see me out and about coaching on my ‘fun-bike-of-fun’.

Is there life outside FIT: I can talk incessantly about my dog Augie, and I have a life-long love of horseriding. I put all my competitive energy into cake baking and decorating competitions. Taste testers are often required!

How did you become a FIT coach: I became a fixture at Monday night swimming, and was approached to undertake a coaching course when one was offered. I did some cycle ‘helping’ for the WTTP and loved it, so undertaking a formal coaching course seemed a natural progression from that.

What do you like about FIT coaching: I love getting to work and train with women of all types and abilities – from those who may never have swum/ridden before or who might be getting back into exercise after many years, to women training for world championships – and so often the former become the latter. Everyone trains side by side, and then we trade tales over coffee. Physical activity has so, so many benefits for both physical and psychological health, and FIT does such amazing things to facilitate and maintain women’s participation; it’s a huge pleasure to be a part of that.

What is your cycling, running or swimming background: I grew up swimming, although gave up competition when I reached high school (as so many girls do). I’ve always ridden a bike and have done a bit of long-distance cycle touring, although until doing a FIT program I had never cycled in any particularly structured way. I did a triathlon novice program in 2010 and caught the bug, and did quite a lot of racing both in Australia and Europe (where I lived for a bit) before being forced to slow down with an injury. When I returned to Australia and made some progress with rehab, I eventually got back in the pool. After getting sick of following a black line on my own, I joined FIT. After seeing how great the club was, I joined one of the cycling programs, and haven’t looked back!

Is there life outside FIT: Not one that’s particularly interesting! Like everyone else I work, and I’m also studying on the side (public health and sports science). I have a terrible cat named Sam. At the moment I’m trying to become a better mountain biker, but it’s slow going.

Water Running – Di Evans

How did you become a FIT coach: I have been a coach for 40 years beginning as a Level 1 accredited netball coach, coaching at National Level. This was as far as the pathway went then and I wrote the ACT pathway accredited course manual. I guess becoming a FIT coach was just a natural progression even if it was in another sport.

What do you like about FIT coaching: FIT is definitely a special club! I think the fact that we are all volunteer coaches, encourages other FIT members to volunteer too. This is the foundation of FIT and this is definitely why I like coaching with FIT.

What is your water running background: I began water running when I was training for my first marathon in 2003. I was injured and my physio recommended trying water running to get me through the training without further injuring myself. It worked and I was hooked! I started coaching my first marathon runner, Michele Boyle in 2010 and persuaded her to give water running a go and only run outdoors for three days a week, with water running her cross training days. I have coached Linda Mackay with an injury to run a marathon with NO outside running, only water running & strength work in the gym. She did the marathon in an amazing time too!

Is there life outside FIT: I am a dedicated grandmother of five. I have always been hands on with them all, teaching them to cook, support their respective sport, and encourage them in their other interests. I am known as sporty nanny whilst the other grandmother is known as craft nanny (not my expertise!).

Would you like to coach for FIT?

FIT members have a wide variety of experience, knowledge and other talents. If you have benefited from FIT training programs and/or coaching and would like to help out participants at FIT we’d love to hear from you.

It is always great to have new people help out who have some knowledge of swimming, cycling or running (you don’t need to be an expert to be able to help out), and a keenness to encourage others to improve. You don’t need to be a great athlete yourself, because it is great to have ‘average’ people who have managed to learn to swim, cycle or run, and have reached their goals. You can be a great motivator and role model for other novices!

We won’t drop you in the deep end — you can start by observing and helping an experienced coach. You can then gradually learn how the training is conducted. If you have already been training with FIT then you may already know more than you think! If you are keen, you can always progress to getting more formal coaching qualifications.

Coaching Pathways At FIT

Most FIT coaches are either Triathlon coaches or specialist coaches in a particular discipline such as Water Running. If you are interested in coaching for FIT, it’s a good idea to talk to either a a Lead Discipline Coach or FIT’s Coaching Coordinator to determine what courses are coming up and/ or where coaches are needed. From time to time, we also advertise for new coaches on an as needs basis. A PDF version of the below pathway is available here.

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Interested in joining FIT?

Want to get more active ...but not really sure where to start? Well, this is the right place - Canberra's unique fun and FITness group for women of all ages has something to offer you! If you're not sure, try out 2-3 sessions — swimming, running or cycling, then if you like what we're about join here. We're sure you'll want to keep getting FIT-ter and having a lot of fun along the way - so just do it!

Upcoming Events

Water running is great for general recovery after other training and for rehab if you have an injury. Lots of members who run/cycle swear by a weekly water running session to aid recovery and build … Continue reading Monday water running (a.m.)

Girls Grammer swimming pool. Park on Empire Circuit. FIT has several swimming lanes, so there’s room to stretch out and do some laps and drills and practice stroke improvement. Different levels are catered for — … Continue reading Monday coached swimming

Water running is great for general recovery after other training and for rehab if you have an injury. Lots of members who run/cycle swear by a weekly water running session to aid recovery and build … Continue reading Monday water running (p.m.)